When it comes to weddings, it’s “your day, your way”

When it comes to planning weddings, there is a resounding underlying objective that all brides seem to have – the desire to make their day unique, personalized and memorable. All while on a budget.

There are endless possibilities to turn a wedding into a unique fairy tale and Sunrise Park & Banquet Center recently hosted a bridal fair to help future brides explore these possibilities.

Northwood Jewelers was on hand at the bridal fair showcasing a large selection wedding bands, from classic to one-of-a-kind. Tara Taylor showcased some of the hot new trends in male weddings bands, including silver bands inlaid with camouflage to the tungsten ceramic rings, which appear to be a sleek and shiny slate color.

Cindy and Tom Mohr, of Curtice, are baristas and owners of Java Sensations Espresso Catering Service, which can add a unique treat to any wedding reception with gourmet coffee, latte, espresso, frappe and smoothie stations.

“Plain titanium has always been popular with the men as well and one of the newest styles out there is the wood grain and rose gold rings,” Taylor said. The most popular ring, according to Taylor, is the fingerprint ring, which incorporates a scan of the bride’s fingerprint cast into the ring. The unique and modern look is capturing the attention of many couples, Taylor said.

Northwood Jewelers also has a large variety of bands that can be customized to fit with almost any engagement ring. Bands can be made in any metal, any size and with any karat stone.

A unique new band is the “add a diamond” band, which includes spaces where diamonds can be added each year – either the same size diamond or, couples can get creative with and choose to add bigger diamonds to signify a milestone year.

Joyce Kachenmeister, a licensed wedding officiate and owner of Crystal Manor River Weddings in Toledo, also talked about trends.

“What I find as far as meeting with couples is that they are cutting costs and looking for something small and intimate but still very elegant,” she said. “They’re cutting down the guest lists because they just can’t afford it. A lot of couples I find like the outdoor setting – it’s different and unique, especially if they don’t have a base church.”

Joyce’s personal motto is, “your day, your way.” “I make it reflective of the two of them. Instead of just handing them a ceremony and saying pick this or pick that, they get to go and design it based on what they want to put in it,” she said.

Also among the exhibitors at the fair was Chiavari Chair Toledo, offering a display of table settings alongside a collection of photographs depicting eye-catching floral designs by Bartz Viviano.

In addition, Tiffany Inman was on hand representing It Works!, a company that specializes in body contouring applications used to help anyone from the bride to the mother of the bride to tighten, tone and firm trouble areas before the big day. The company also offers a skin care line as well as a line of premium supplements that promote health and can aid in weight loss. Tiffany boasts that she lost 70 pounds while using the products.

Tiffany Turner and Geri Dennis from Mary Kay Cosmetics promoted their bridal glamour sessions and wedding party consultations and Ken Kilman, owner of New Image Photography and Video, discussed his wedding services, which includes photographing destination wedding at no extra cost for travel and no restriction on the destination. Then, if a couple has a reception back home, he will photograph it for free as long as it is not on a Saturday.